Itanagar, Jan 30: Balo Raja, Minister (Urban Affairs etc) convened a coordination meeting with the newly elected Mayor & Dy. Mayor of Itanagar Municipal Corporation, Chief Councillor &Dy. Chief Councillor of Pasighat Municipal Council in presence of his Advisor for Urban Affairs-cum–MLA Itanagar here today.  
The meeting was also attended by the Commissioner (IMC), Municipal Executive Officer of PMC, Executive Engineers from both the ULBs and officials of Directorate of Urban Local Body among others.
​During the discussion, various developmental activities within the Urban Cities were discussed in detail.  Both the IMC and the PMC urged the Minister to consider devolution/transfer of more subjects to the ULBs as enumerated in the 74th Amendment and its 12th scheduled of the Constitution to make them self sustainable.  
The  state government has demonstrated its commitment to democratic de-centralisation by devolving the following important functional subjects to the IMC & PMC for effective implementations namely (1) Sanitation conservancy and solid waste management (2) Urban forestry, protection of the environment and promotion of ecological aspects (3) Safeguarding the interest of weaker sections of society, including the handicapped and mentally retarded (4) Urban Poverty alleviation (5) Burials and burial grounds, cremations, cremation grounds and electric crematoriums (6) Cattle pounds, prevention of cruelty to animals (7) Vital Statistics including registration of births and deaths (8) Regulation of slaughter house and tanneries among others.  They also urged to the Minister for Municipal financing with special window in the State Budget as being done for PRIs; as at present revenues are being generated only through trade licences, birth and death certificates, garbage collection fees and hoarding charges which are very minimal.
During the course of discussion, it was also pointed out that few subjects devolved to the ULBs as per the 74thAmendment, are also allocated    to some line departments in the Business of the Govt of Arunachal   Pradesh (Allocations) Rules 2021 which needs rectification for smooth functioning of the ULBs for which the very 74th Constitutional Amendment was made.  
Techi Kaso, MLA Itanagar-cum-Advisor to the  Minister (Urban Affairs) advised the newly constituted LBs to work diligently for the welfare of the people.  He also proposed for a joint site inspection with  DC, ICR, Mayor, (IMC) and other stakeholders to the burial ground at Nirjuli/Karsingsa for making it functional again.
​Raja assured the house to take up the concerns and demands of the ULBs with the CM for fulfilling the short comings  at par with the provisions contained in the 74thAmendment.  Regarding the burial ground at Chimpu(Itanagar), the Minister informed that he has already taken up the matter with the government for providing necessary boundary wall to protect the area from any possible misuse or encroachment in public interest.  He also advised the IMC to keep proper records of the bodies being cremated/buried in the designated area within its jurisdiction. 

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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